Conveyer apparatus



A. G. ROSE 1,987,871

` CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l ...SLI f Inl.

Jan. l5, 1935- Jan. 1s, 1193s. A. G, RO'SE 1,987,871

CONVEYER APPARATUS F'iled Sept. 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJamie-5,1935. AGROSE I 1,987,871

'coNvEYER APPARATUS `Filed Sept. 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l ||O|| I ROl: II l 0| I W :l H 1 @AMA Jan. 15, 19.35'. A. G. RosE CONVEYERvAPPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1934 4 Sl'leetS---Sheei'l F .n als? 6 l n l ll 52 55 i E? 3f 0 Llll I] 6% l I fl t H 67 06560 5g 6655 K y mvENToRay/wtf Patented Jan. 15, 1935 Alfred German Rose, Gainsborough, England,as- Signor to Rose Brothers (Gainsborough) Limited, Gainsborough,England, a British company Application September 14, 1934, Serial No.743,977

In Great Britain July 6, 1933 6 Claims.v (01.-198-170) This inventionrelates to `conveyer apparatus of the kind comprising an endless chainmounted on a plurality of supporting Wheels with a lap thereof extendingalongside a track along which an 5 article is to be fed to a deliverystation at one end, means for driving the chain at a constant speed,

al pusher (or more usually a plurality of such pushers) pivoted on thechain to move therewith,

a rail or rails engaging the` pusher to determine 10 its positionrelatively to the chain and cause an operative part of the pusher tomove along, and

to feed an article along the track, and pusher-A retiring means adjacentto delivery station for rocking the'fpusher relatively to the chain andl5 thereby to move the operative part ofthe pusher backwardly relativelyto"` the Ichain"y and trans-vr versely of the track frombehind--thearticle which is left on the track at the delivery station.

The object of this inventionis to provide con- 20 veyer apparatushavinga simple and-reliable construction of pusher-retiring' means. Accordingto the present invention conveying apparatusof the above kind isprovided with pusher-retiring means which comprises Vapinionu mounted fto 25 rotate with the pusher about the latterspivot on the chain andatoothed member arranged to engage the pinion adjacentthe-deliverystation and turn it and the pusher in such directionas tocause the operative part of thepusher to move 30. backwardly relatively'to `the 'chain; and transversely of the track. vThe deliveryfstation isusually adjacent one of the supporting wheels around' which thef chainpasses, 'and the toothed member-is preferably -a gear wheel concentric35 with the said supporting Wheel;

Ina preferred' construction there is provided means; for driving thetoothed meniben'atthe` timerwhe'n it engages the pinion at a speedsuchthat its teeth are moving at the 'same linearvefry locity as thecooperatingteeth of the pinion and for thereafter varying thespeedoff'movement of the toothed member so't'hat rit, rotates the pinionrelatively to the chain. y

When the toothed member is a gear-wheel there 45 may be provided aWorm-wheel secured. toit, a worm meshing with the Worm-wheel and mountedfor axial movement, ,and meansffor periodically reciprocating theWorm'.v During thereciprocating movement of the Worm'the gear-,wheel isfirst accelerated and is then deceleratedinorder'to rock the pusher,first in one direction and then in the other rdirection back to itsoriginal'position.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference tothe accompanying draw-ings in Which:- A- 1 Figure 1 isan elevation of conveying apparatusv with a cover removed and partly insection,

Figure 2 is an elevation showing a part of the apparatus with a pushermember in a different position to that shown in Figure 1,v

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1,

and

Figure 4 is a plan of the gearing incorporated in the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises two side frames and 11 (Figure 3) which supportthe various shafts of the mechanism and which are held together bysuitable cross-members 12.

The frames carrytwo table members 13 and 14 which have a slot 15 betweenthem. Guide rails 16 and 17 are secured on the members 13 and 14 so asto provide a track along which a succession of articles are to be fed.The articles are conveyed along on this track from left to right, asseen in Figure 1.

` A shaft 18 supported on the left-hand end (Figure 1) of the apparatuscarries a pair ofA sprocket Wheels 19. At theother end of the apparatusa sprocket Wheel 20 is secured on a shaft 21 which is journalled in asleeve 22.

The sleeve 22 is secured to the frame 11 and extends therethrough. Atits outer end the shaft 21 has a gear- Wheel 23 secured on it. Thegear-wheel meshes with a gear-Wheel 23a (Figure 4) Which is secured to agear-Wheel 24. The gear-wheel 24 meshes with a gear-wheel 25 free on astud 26. The gear- Wheel 25 in turn meshes with the gear-wheel 27secured on a main drive shaft 28 which is driven continuously in anysuitable manner.

The gear- Wheel 24 is secured on a shaft 29 Which extends across theapparatus and carries a gear-wheel 30 (Figure 4) at its end adjacent theframe 10. The gear-Wheel 30 meshes with a gear-wheel 31 (Figure I3)which is secured to a sleeve 32.

The

sleeve 32 is'journalled in a sleeve 33 which is secured to andextendsthrough, the frame 10. A sprocket Wheel 34 is secured on theinner end of the-sleeve 32.

The gearing just explained is so proportioned that the sprocket wheelsI20 and 34 will rotate together in the same direction at the same angularthe sprocket Wheels.

Intermediate sprocket wheels may be provided for supporting the chainsalong their straight laps.

The chains support between them a plurality of pushers 37 which arespaced apart so that one complete rotation of the shaft 28 and thesprocket wheels moves each pusher into the position previously occupiedby the preceding pusher.

Referring to the left-hand part of Figure 1 and to Figure 3, each pusher37 is pivoted on a rod 38 which is carried by a pair of bearing members39. Each bearing member 39 is secured to one of the links of acorresponding chain. The pushers 37 are thus pivotally supported by thechains. The spindles 38 are pinned on to the bearing members 39 by pins40. The pushers 37 have operating portions 41 which, when the respectivepusher is moving along the upper lap of the chain, travel along thetrack. The pushers are held in the required position relatively to thechain by a rearwardly extending block 42 which moves along a track 43.The track comprises an upper and lower straight portion joined at theirleft-hand end (Figure 1) by a semi-circular portion. The upper straightportion of the track 43 is dened by a downward projection 44 from thetable member 13 and an upper bar 45 of a frame 46. The frame 46 issupported on suitable cross-bars 47 extending between the main frames 10and 11. The lower straight portion of the track is defined by a lowerbar 48 of the frame 46 and a bar 49 which is supported on the cross-bars12. The arcuate portion of the track is dened by a curved member 50(left Figure 1). The track 45 causes the pushers to extend transverselyof the chain as they move round therewith. From Figure 1 it will benoticed that the upper length of the track 43 terminates just short ofthe sprocket wheels 20 and 34, while the lower length of the trackcommences immediately below these wheels.

A gear-Wheel 51 (Figure 3) is secured on a shaft 52 which extendsthrough the sleeve 32 and carries a worm-wheel 53 on its outer end. Theworm- Wheel 53 meshes with a worm 54 which is secured on a shaft 55. Theshaft 55 is mounted to rotate and slide in bearings 56, 57 and 58(Figure 1) and has an elongated pinion 59 secured on it. The pinion 59meshes with a gear-wheel 60 which is integral with a bevel-wheel 61.These two wheels are pinned on a shaft 62 which rotates in bearings 63and 64, and is restrained from axial movement by collar 65 pinned on it.The bevel-wheel 61 meshes with a bevel-wheel 66 secured on the shaft 29which, it will be recalled, turns at the same speed as the shaft 28. Thegear-wheel 60 is driven at the same speed as the shaft 28 and drives theshaft 55 at three times this speed. The worm 54 drives the worm-wheel 53and the gear-wheel 51 at one-third of the speed of the shaft 55, so thatthe gear-wheel 51 normally turns at the same speed as the sprocketwheels 20 and 34.

'I'he shaft 55 has collars 67 and 68 (Figure 1) secured on it and aninverted U-shaped member 69 ts between these collars. This member isconnected by pins 70 to the forked top of a bellcrank lever 71 (seeFigure 3). The lever 71 is pivoted at 72, and carries a roller 73 whichengages a cam 74 and a second collar 75 which engages a cam 76. The cams74 and 76 co-operate to oscillate the lever '71 once during eachrotation of the shaft 28 and thus to reciprocate the shaft 51 and theworm 54.

The operation of the mechanism is as followsz- During one rotation ofthe shaft 28 a pusher 37 is moved from the position A to the position Band feeds an article along the track defined by the parts 13, 14, 16,and 17 (Figure 3). During this time the pusher 37 is maintained in theposition shown in Figure 1 by the engagement of its block 42 in thetrack 43. When the pusher reaches the position B, a pinion 77, which issecured to it, engages and meshes with the gear-wheel 51 (see Figure 3)which at this time is being driven at the same speed as the sprocketwheels 20 and 34. At the moment of engagement the linear velocity of theteeth of the pinion 77 and the linear velocity of the gear-wheel 51 arethe same, so that these parts can engage without shock. At this time thearticle has reached the delivery station and the operative part 41 ofthe pusher must be moved backwardly and transversely of the track of thearticle so as to leave the article at the delivery station.

With the parts in the positions shown in Figure 1, further rotation ofthe shaft 28 will result in the cam 74 rocking the lever 71counter-clockwise and moving the shaft 55 and worm 54 to the left. Asthe worm moves to the left it acts, in the manner of a rack, to impartto the worm-wheel 53 a forward rotation in addition to that which itimparts to this wheel by acting as a worm pure and simple. In otherwords, as the worm is moved to the left, the angular velocity of theworm-wheel 53 is accelerated. Consequently, the angular velocity of thegear wheel 51 is accelerated and the linear velocity of its teethbecomes greater than that of the chains 35 and 36. The pinion 77 whichis in mesh with the gear-wheel 51 is therefore rotated relatively to thechain and rocks its pusher 37 into the position shown in Figure 2. Thepusher 37 has the motion which is compounded of rotation about thecentre of the shaft 52 and a rotation in the reverse direction about itsown pivot 38. The operative part 41 of the pusher will thus movetransversely of the track for the articles and below the supportingmembers 13 and 14. After the parts have reached the position shown inFigure 2 the cam 74 holds the lever 71 in its extreme counter-clockwiseposition for a short period and then rocks it back to its normalposition. While the lever 71 is in its extreme displaced position andthe gear-wheel 51 is rotating at the same speed as the sprocket Wheelsso that the pusher 37 does not rotate about its spindle 38 but movesaround the shaft 52 as centre. While the lever 71 is being restored tothe normal right-hand position, the worm 54 acts to retard thegear-wheel 51 which in turn rocks the pusher 37 back to its normalposition relatively to the conveyer chains. The cam 75 is complementaryto the cam 74 and co-operates therewith in rocking the lever 71 in themanner just explained.

It should be noted that the cams are shaped to rock the lever from theposition of Figure 1 to that of Figure 2 and back to the position ofFigure 1 in slightly less than one half revolution of the shaft 28.Thus, the pusher 37 will move from the position shown in Figure 1 tothat shown in Figure 2 and then back to a position in which it projectsdownwardly from the chain during one half revolution of the shaft 28 andof the sprocket wheels 20 and 34 (Figure 3). The pusher 37 willtherefore be in the correct position for its block 42 to enter the lowerlength of the track 43.

I claim:-

1. Conveyer apparatus comprising a track along which an article is to befed to a delivery station at one end thereof, an endless chain, aplurality of supporting wheels supporting the chain with one lap thereofextending alongside of the track, means for driving the chain, a pusherpivoted on the chain to move therewith, a rail engaging the pusher todetermine its position relatively to the chain and to cause operativeparts of the pusher to move along the track, a pinion secured on thepusher and a toothed member arranged to engage the pinion when thepusher is adjacent the delivery station and to rotate the pinion andpusher in the direction to move the operative part of the pusherrearwardly and transversely of the track and off the track.

2. Conveyer apparatus comprising an endless chain, a plurality of Wheelssupporting the chain, a track along which an article is to be fed andwhich extends parallel to one lap of the chain and terminates adjacentone of the supporting Wheels, means for driving the chain at a constantspeed, a pusher pivoted on the chain to move therewith, a rail engagingthe pusher to determine its position relatively to the chain and guidean operative part o-f the pusher along the track, a .pinion secured tothe pusher, a gear wheel mounted to rotate about the axis of thesupporting wheel adjacent the end of the track and to engage the pinionWhile the pusher is moving round the periphery of the said supportingwheel, and means for normally driving the gear Wheel at a speed suchthat its teeth move with the same linear velocity as the chain whichmeans is arranged to accelerate the gear wheel after it has engaged thepinion.

3. Conveyer apparatus comprising a track having a delivery station atone end, an endless chain, a plurality of wheels supporting the chainwith one lap thereof extending alongside of the track, one of whichWheels is located adjacent the delivery station and is partly encircledby the chain, means for driving the chain at a constant speed, a pusherpivoted on the chain, a rail engaging the pusher and holding it inposition relatively to the chain for an operative part of it to movealong the track, which rail terminates adjacent the delivery station, apinion secured on the pusher, a gear Wheel mounted to rotate about theaxis of the supporting Wheel that is adjacent to the delivery stationand to engage the pinion as the pusher moves round the periphery of thesaid supporting wheel and a variable speed driving gear arrangednormally to drive the gear wheel at a speed such that its peripherymoves with the same speed as the chain and to accelerate and deceleratethe movement of the gear Wheel while it is engaged with the pinion.

4. Conveyer apparatus comprising an endless chain, a pair of supportingwheels which are spaced apart and around which the chain is stretched, atrack extending parallel to one straight lap of the chain, means fordriving the chain at a constant speed, a pusher pivoted on the chain, aguide rail extending parallel to the track and engaging the pusher tohold an operative part of the pusher in the track in position to push anarticle along the track to a delivery station adjacent one of thesupporting Wheels, a pinion secured to the pusher, a gear wheel mountedto turn about the axis of the supporting wheel adjacent the deliverystation and engage the pinion while the pusher is travelling round theperiphery of the said supporting Wheel, a worm wheel connected to saidgear wheel, a worm meshing with said worm wheel, means for rotating saidworm at a constant speed and means for reciprocating the worm while thegear wheel is engaged with the pusher.

5.k Conveyer apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means forreciprocating the Worm comprises a cam and a lever engaging the cam tobe rocked thereby and connected to the Worm to reciprocate it.

6. Conveyer apparatus comprising a chain, a pair of spaced supportingwheels around which the chain is stretched to have upper and lowerhorizontal laps, a track along which an article is to be fed extendingabove and parallel to the upper lap, a plurality of pushers eachpivotally mounted on the chain, a guide rail extending adjacent thechain and engaging the pushers to hold them in a position relatively tothe chain in which an operative portion extends outwardly from the chainto engage an article and feed it along the track, which guide rails areinterrupted adjacent the supporting Wheel at the delivery end of thetrack, means for driving the chain at a constant speed, a pinion securedon each pusher, a gear wheel mounted to rotate about the axis of thesupporting wheel adjacent the delivery end of the track and to engageeach pinion as it is carried around said supporting wheel, and means fornormally driving the gear wheel at a speed such that its teeth move withthe same linear velocity as the chain, which means is operable insynchronism with the means for driving the chain to accelerate the gearWheel after it has engaged a pinion and then to decelerate it to itsnormal speed before it becomes disengaged from said pinion.

ALFRED GERMAN ROSE.

